Design of Electrocatalysts and Electrochemical Cells for Carbon Dioxide Reduction Reactions

Electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction can produce valuable carbonaceous compounds that are in significant demand, due to its ability to decrease the accumulated atmospheric CO2 and improve the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. Considering the sluggish kinetics of CO2 reduction reaction, the multielectron-proton transfer process, and the inevitable mixed reduction products, designing efficient and robust electrocatalysts that benefit from the structure-activity relationship is the focus to promote CO2 conversion. In this review, various metal-based materials are first classified and discussed in terms of their structural and elemental compositions for catalytic behaviors. Afterward, the most intrinsic microstructural/electronic effects as well as the influence of compositional alteration on the catalyst activity, selectivity, and stability are summarized. Additionally, recent attempts to develop the assigned electrochemical cells are surveyed and described from a technological point of view.